James Harvey Lininger

James H. Lininger, born October 23, 1930 in Bucyrus, KS, passed away September 2, 2022 in Wichita, KS. Jim was the only child of Leonard Harvey Lininger and Ala Grace (Holcomb) Lininger. Jim grew up in Augusta, KS, attended college at Kansas State University where, importantly, Jim was a member of the KSU Wildcat football team and lifelong Catbacker! Jim met H. Carol (Burton) Lininger in Eldorado, KS, they married and had three daughters, Tonya Lininger Dahl, Linda Lininger Matson, and Jamie Lininger Sauber. Jim is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Jim taught and coached football in Valley Falls, Claflin, and Iola, KS before moving with his family to Wichita in 1961 where he taught and coached football, eventually becoming the Athletic Director and Assistant Principal. Jim retired after a long career in USD 259, Wichita. Jim’s daughters have so many fond memories of time with him. One example was going with dad to the high school locker rooms on Saturday to stack football pads and help themselves to vitamin C tablets…without restriction. Jim loved the outdoors. He was in his element fishing and boating on Grand Lake, OK, watching birds, grilling food, vacationing with grandkids in the infamous RV, and driving to the Dairy Queen for ice cream (frequently). Jim was an accomplished artist/craftsman. His stained-glass pieces and bird houses can still be found proudly displayed by family and friends. In his later years Jim kept busy sewing quilts for the Wichita Children’s home, mastering colored-pencil art, string art, and 3D diamond art. His products were met with admiration from many of his friends and neighbors at Sedgwick Plaza where he lived for the past eight years. Sedgwick Plaza Retirement Community, Wichita, KS receives special recognition and deeply felt gratitude for his care. Jim loved the staff there, and they loved and cared for him, just as they would family. There was always candy for his caregivers when they visited, but more importantly, there were teasing and laughs. Jim thrived in his later years because of his staff and resident relationships at Sedgwick Plaza. Funeral Service will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, September 10, 2022, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.